This is a list of television programmes that I have watched in recent months:

The Island with Bear Grylls

SAS: Who Dares Wins

Eden

Le Tour de France

There's a common theme: ordinary people pushing their bodies and minds to the limit in extreme situations. Voluntarily, I might add.

I find it highly addictive viewing. The reason, I believe, is that it makes me wonder how I would behave in the same situation. I'm thrust from the comfort of my cushioned chair in a central heated house to the discomfort of physical endeavour in the great (and merciless) outdoors.

Although I don't intend to put myself through such an epic ordeal, programmes like these do inspire me to get outdoors and hike, cycle, camp and so on. On a personal level, they inspire me to push myself to see what I'm capable of.

We shall see.

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